Vacuum operated hair cutter



March 21, 1961 P. w. BRITTAIN 2,975,517

VACUUM OPERATED HAIR CUTTER Filed Oct. 5, 1959 FlG.l

INVENTOR. PERCY W. BRITTAIN ZMM $0M ATTYS.

Unite States The present invention relates to hair cutters, especially to vacuum operated hair cutters adapted to be operated as an attachment, for example, to a conventional vacuum cleaner.

Heretofore there have been various styles of hair cutters provided and some efforts have been made heretofore to provide a satisfactory type of a vacuum operated hair cutter. Some of these hair cutters, vacuum operated, have been of the type proposed for use as attachments to vacuum cleaners to be operated by the air streams set up thereby. However, insofar as I am aware, no completely satisfactory type of hair cutter of this type has been developed heretofore.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved vacuum operated hair cutter characterized by the production of such hair cutter from a relatively small number of parts and with a sturdy, effective construction being provided to connect a rotary driving shaft to a reciprocable cutter bar for hair cutting action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair cutter having a cutter bar therein wherein a controllable pressure is exerted on the cutter bar to force it against a cutter head for cutting action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum operated hair cutter which is of a sturdy, practical construction adapted to have a long service life with a minimum of maintenance thereon and which cutter can be easily disassembled for cleaning.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved vacuum operated hair cutter usable as an attachment with conventional vacuum cleaners and wherein the hair cutter is of such design and construction as to be easily operable by the user and to effect a sucking up or pulling in of cut hairs to pull them into the vacuum cleaner with which the cutter attachment of the invention is used.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation of a vacuum operated hair cutter embodying the principles of the invention showing it attached to a conventional vacuum hose, such as can be used with a vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the actual cutter head and associated means of the hair cutter of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and showing the member engaging the hair cutter at the inlet end thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 to show the means for exerting pressure on one face of the cutter bar of the hair cutter;

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Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the cutter bar taken on line 77 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary enlarged sections taken on lines 8-8 and 99 of Fig. 2.

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

The present invention, generally speaking, relates to a vacuum operated hair cutter comprising a tubular frame, a member secured to the frame at an inlet end thereof, a cutter plate secured to the member, a cutter bar operatively associated with the cutter plate on an inner surface thereof and secured thereby against a portion of the member, a propeller shaft journalled in the frame and operatively connected to the cutter bar to reciprocate it when the shaft is rotated by an air current passing through the frame, a propeller secured tothe propeller shaft, a pair of ball bearings positioned intermediate the member and cutter bar to aid in reciprocably positioning the cutter bar, and a pair of controllable adjustment means carried by the member and each operatively engaging a said ball bearing to exert pressure thereon to urge the cutter bar against the cutter plate and aid in obtaining efiective engagement and cutting action therebetween upon reciprocation of the cutter bar.

Particular attention is directed now to the details of the structure shown in the drawings, and a hair cutter of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This hair cutter 1 includes a tubular frame 2 portions of which may be removably associated with each other and which tubular frame may include a front end section 3 in which the operative cutter means of the hair cutter 1 are operatively positioned, and it also may include a removable discharge end section 4 carried by the tubular frame and forming a portion thereof for engaging a conventional flexible conduit 5. The conduit 5 can be connected to an ordinary vacuum cleaner, or other vacuum source to create a flow of air into and through this conduit 5 from the. portion thereof connecting to the hair cutter 1.

In order to position the operative parts of the hair cutter 1 within the tubular frame 2, the front end section 3 has a member or cutter body 6 carried thereby, or formed integrally therewith, as desired. This frame or member 6 covers only a portion of the front end of the tubular frame 2 so that a top opening 7 is formed or remains therein. Thus hair can flow into and through the tubular frame 2 from the front end thereof from the area immediately adjacent the frame or member 6.

A cutter head, or cutter plane 8 having a row of cutting teeth 9 formed along one margin thereof is removably secured to the cutter head or member 6, as by means of cap screws 10. The cutter body or member 6 has an inclined surface 11 against which a flat portion of the cutter plate 8 is secured so that the cutter plate is inclined upwardly and forwardly of the tubular frame 2 at the front end section thereof. A cutter bar 12. having a row of teeth 13 on one edge thereof is secured to the cutter body or member 6 by the cutter plate 8 and is removably positioned in engagement with this cutter body for reciprocatory cutting action, as hereinafter described.

The drive for the cutter bar 12 in the hair cutter 1 of 5 the invention is provided by means of a propeller shaft 14 which is journalled within the tubular frame 2, as by means of bearings 15 received within the tubular frame and having relatively large apertures or bores 16 therein so that the bearings will be of minimum interference with air flow through the tubular frame 2. A disc-typeof a propeller 17 is secured to one portion of the propeller shaft 14 and it has a plurality of blades 18 formed at its periphery so that when a stream or current of air is drawn through the tubular frame 2 such air stream will cause the propeller 17 and propeller shaft 14 to be rotated for driving the cutter bar 12 by the means hereinafter described in detail.

The cutter'body or member a has a bore 19, counterbored at 20, provided therein. The propeller shaft 14 extends through such bore 19 and has an enlarged end or sleeve 21 formed thereon or suitably secured thereto. A radially offset, axially extending drive pin 22 is formed on or suitably secured to this enlarged end 21 for connecting the propeller shaft 14 to the cutter bar to translate the rotary action of the shaft to controlled reciprocated action for the cutter her. To this end,v the cutter bar 12 has a pair of parallel ribs or Walls 23 formed thereon usually integrally therewith to define what may be 'considered a slot 24 between the ribs 23. The drive pin 22 extends into and.is continually engaged in this slot 24, and the slot extends in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular frame 2. Hence, on rotary movement of the propeller shaft 14, the drive pin 22 will be moved through an orbit about the axis of the propeller shaft and, by being continually engaged with the slot 24 between the ribs 23, the drive pin 22 will engage different portions of the spaced parallel ribs. The rotary move ment of the drive shaft will cause the cutter bar 12 to be reciprocated through a path transversely of the cutter body 6 extending in width at distance equal to the diameter of the circular orbit or pathof the drive pin 22.

As an important feature of the present invention, a controllable pressure means is present in the hair cutter for urging the cutter bar 12 into engagement with the cutter plate 6 to provide effective cutting action between the adjacent, relatively movable sets of teeth 13 and 9 provided thereon, respectively. The controllable pressure mounting, and reciprocating movement of the cutter bar 12 is facilitated, or obtained, by providing a bearing member, such as a ball bearing 25 in engagement with a lateral portion of the back surface of the cutter bar 12 on each side of the center line thereof, which bearing is received in a transversely extending recess 26 provided in spaced portions of such surface of the cutter bar. The ball bearings 25 each are individually engaged with a recess 27 in a pin 28 slidably positioned in a bore 29 extending into the cutter head 6 of the apparatus. Such cam pin 28 has an inclined cam surface 29 provided thereon at the inner end thereof. A set screw 31 for each pin 28 is engaged with a tapped aperture 32 provided in the cutter body 6 and it extends at right angles to the axis of the bore 29 in the cutter body to engage this inclined cam surface 30 of the cam fingers 28. Thus by adjusting the position of the set screw 31 in the aperture 32 in which it is received, different engagements are made between the axially inner end of the set screw 31 and the associated cam surfaces 30 of the cam pins 28 to move them axially towards the front end section 3 of the hair cutter and force the ball bearings 25 and the cutter bar 12 with which they are engaged into tighter engagement with the cutter plate 8. It will be seen that each of the set screws 31 is individually adjustable, and that the ball bearings 25 provided in the hair cutter will mount the cutter bar 12 on the cutter body 6 for reciprocating movement and reduce frictional forces therebetween. 'Ihe cutter bar 12 preferably has only minimum sliding engagement with the cutter plate 8 and may engage such cutter plate only adjacent the cutting teeth 9 and adjacent an opposed longitudinally extending edge portion of the cutter plate.

In using the improved vacuum operated hair cutter 1 of the invention, it will be seen that air currents will be caused to flow into the tubular frame 2 from points adjacent the cutting teeth 9 and 13 of the cutter means provided in the apparatus so that nearly all, or all hairs cut by the cutter 1 will be drawn into and through this tubular frame 2 for passage through the conduit 5 into the associated vacuum cleaner.

The discharge end section 4 of the tubular frame 2 can be removed at any desired time to facilitate cleaningthe propeller 17, when necessary. This propeller 17 is secured to the propeller shaft 14 by a lock nut 33, or the like, to facilitate removal of the propeller at any desired time for cleaning.

It is believed that the hair cutter of the invention has a minimum number of parts therein and that these parts are correlated with each other to provide a maximum of service life with a minimum of maintenance thereon. The hair cutter is of relatively low cost, is of an uncomplicated construction, and is sturdy in design so that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum operated hair cutter, a tubular frame, a member secured to said frame at an inlet end thereof, a cutter plate having a row of teeth along one edge thereof secured to said member on its outer surface, a cutter bar operatively associated with said cutter plate on an inner surface thereof, a propeller shaft journalled in said frame and operatively connected to said cutter bar to reciprocate it when said shaft is rotated by an air current passing through said frame, a pair of ball bearings positioned intermediate said member and cutter bar to aid in movably positioning said cutter bar, and a pair of cam and set screw means carried by said member and each operatively engaging a said ball bearingto urge said cut ter bar against said cutter plate and aid in obtaining proper engagement and cutting action thereof.

2. In a vacuum operated hair cutter, a tubular frame, a member secured to said frame at an inlet end thereof, a cutter plate secured to said member, a cutter bar operatively associated with said cutter plate on an inner surface thereof and secured thereby against a portion of said member, said cutter plate and cutter bar both having sets of cutting teeth thereon positioned adjacent each other for cutting hairs extending into said sets of teeth, a propeller shaft journalled in said frame and operatively connected to said cutter bar to reciprocate it when said shaft is rotated by an air current passing through said frame, a propeller secured to said propeller shaft, a pair of ball .bearings positioned intermediate said member and cutter bar to aid in movably positioning said cutter bar, and a pair of cam and set screw means carried by said member and each operatively engaging a said ball bearing to exert pressure thereon to urge said cutter bar against said cutter plate and aid in obtaining proper engagement and cutting action thereof.

3. A hair cutter as in claim 2 where a pair of transversely extending recesses are formed in a surface of said cutter bar and a said ball bearing is received in each of said recesses.

4. In a hair cutter, a frame, a member secured to said frame, a cutter plate secured to said member, a cutter bar operatively associated with said cutter plate on an inner surface thereof and secured thereby against a portion of said member, said cutter plate and cut-ter bar having operatively associated sets of cutting teeth thereon, a'shaft journalled in said frame and operatively connected to-said cutter bar to reciprocate it when said shaft is rotated, a pair of ball bearings positioned intermediate said memher and cutter bar to aid in movably positioning said cutter bar, a pair of individually operable cam means carried by said member and each operatively engaging a said ball bearing to exert pressure thereon to urge said cutter bar against said cutter plate and aid in obtaining proper engagement and cutting action therebetween, and a pair of set screws one of which individually engages 5 6 one of said cam means to control the pressure exerted on 1,379,450 Koken et a1. May 24, 1921 said ball bearings, said set screws also engaging said 1,555,924 Kruger Oct. 6, 1925 member. 1,949,054 La Chance Feb. 27, 1934 2,292,453 La Mere Aug. 11, 194-2 References Clted 1n the file of thls patent 5 Pierce et a1. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,807,086 Watkins Sept. 24, 1957 287,794 Benson Nov. 6, 1883 576,301 Coates Feb. 2, 1897 FOREIGN PATENTS 718,095 Coates Jan. 13, 1903 14,260 Great Britain of 1910 

